Heading into the New Year you’re probably seeing everyone posting about their goals and parts of their life they want to improve upon. Sustainability and sustainable fashion tend to be hot topics around this time. If you’ve seen “sustainability” or “sustainable living” popping up on your feed it might have crossed your mind that you want to make some changes to your lifestyle and buying habits. Sustainable fashion is a controversial area because the fashion industry itself serves the purpose of providing us with products we do not truly need. The fashion industry continually reinvents and creates new wants, fueling consumerism. While the onus is not on us as consumers, there are little things you can do if a sustainable wardrobe is something you want to work towards in 2022. This is a quick and easy guide of small things you can do to work towards that goal of being sustainable and fashionable.
Fashion
1. Invest in higher quality items when buying new
Take the time and make the investment in higher quality, well-made pieces. Over the long run, you’ll end up saving money by not having to constantly replace your clothes
2. Support slow fashion brands
If you have to buy new, buy from slow fashion rather than supporting fast fashion where your money is going towards companies that do not produce anything sustainably or ethically.
3. Create a capsule wardrobe
A set of staple wardrobe pieces will make your life easier and help streamline your outfit choices. Click here to check out my tips on how to create a capsule wardrobe.
4. Buy second-hand when you can
Giving old items a second life is better than them ending up in the landfill. Buying high-quality, second-hand pieces can be an effective way to save you money and help save the planet.
5. Get your clothes repaired rather than replacing them
Repairing your clothing rather than replacing it will become a no-brainer when you invest in higher-quality wardrobe staples.
6. Rework old clothes into new pieces
Get creative and turn an old sweater into a bag or turn some socks into a stuffed monkey. There are plenty of ways to repurpose your old clothing in a creative and sustainable way.
Shopping Guide
1. Comb through your own closet
See what you already have– you might find things you forgot about!
2. Make a wish list
If you still want a piece after 30 days, go for it. If not, you didn’t really want it in the first place
3. Shop family and friends’ closets
Trade and buy clothes from your friends and family. You might make some great finds!
4. Shop vintage stores and online platforms
Your best option is to try to buy second-hand to be as sustainable as possible
5. Shop new
As a last resort– make your way through the earlier steps first
When you break down a sustainable wardrobe into easy-to-follow steps, it becomes a lot less overwhelming. Small, conscious, choices can make a much bigger difference than many of us think is possible as individual consumers.